Gaseous combustion



A. C. |'.O NIDES, JR.

GASEOUS COMBUSTIONL APPLICATION FILED AUG.I,,1.9 I8.

1,347,955. Patented July 27,1920.

c 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

YNVENTUR- A. C Ion/1218835;

ATTORNEY A. C. IONIDES, JR.

GASEOUS COMBUST|ON..

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, 1918.

1,347,955. atent d uly 27, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wvmuu Aolmdem ATTORNEY A.C.l0N|DES,Jm

GASEOUS COMBUSTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1| 191B.

Patented July 27,1920;

3 SHEETS-$HEET 3.

INVENTOR 4.0.kndies,

; 11mm sr rss PATENT orrlce ALEXANDER CONSTANTINE IUNIDES, JIFL, OFLONDON, ENGLAND.

GASEOUS COMBUSTION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, ALnxANonR CONSTAN- 'JTINI] lemons, Junior, asubject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residin at 3 1Porchester Terrace, London, 7,2,. lbngland, have invented certain newand useful improvements in or ,llelating to Gaseous Combustions, ofwhich the following is a specification.

.This invention relates to gaseous combus tion of the type in which acombustible gaseous fluid and supporter oi combustion, such as gas andair, are both conveyed in separate conduits at pressures bearing a constant relationship to one another to the desired position and mingled.prior to combustiouot the mixture in the correct proportions to obviatea si'lbstantial residue of a constituent. i

In connection with multi-lmruer heating devices, l have already usedfadistribution system for combustion as above in which each burner fittedindependently with means for adj usting by the area of controllingorifices the proportions of the constituents in the mixture at thatpoint, which adjustment having been once made at the maximum calorificvalue of the gas, is not altered for the minor variations in quality ofthe gas which may at any time occur during working. In order, however,to still maintain substantially exact proportions during such minorvariations, the main conduits which supply ally the burners in. commonare one or both provided with adjust ing means by which temporarycorrections aitii'ecting all the burners simultaneously can be made. llow l have-found that the foregoingsystern of adjustment may underordinary practical conditions be givenv a much wider scope and extendedto, say, complete system oi gas lighting or to a series or bay offurnaces although the average consumption is not subject. to largefluctuations, izousiderable variations may from time to time occur. Bythis means it is possibleto place any large sour ee ofdemand under thesuperintending control of a single responsible individual whoby, say,reference to a test flame as hereinafter described, a guide, or anyordinary kind of light,or by other Specification of Letters Patent.

or other lieatin appliances where,"

Patented July 2'7, 1920,

Application filed. August l, 1918. Serial No. 247,7?5.

means,'may eflect adjustment to counteract unavoidable variations in thequality. of the gas, which variations would. otherwise lead to greatloss of ellicieney.

W hen experimenting with combustible mixtures, great difliculty has beenexperienced in providing a simple means for determining a neutralmixture, namely, a mixture of which the products of combustion willcontain neither an. excess of carbon nor an excess of oxygen.

Now it have found that although mixtures of an ordinary coal gas and.air when issuing under a moderate pressure, say 13 water gage, into theatmosphere from a small parallel orifice or jet will not continue toburn when the proportion of air to gas appreciably exceeds three to one,yet. by suitably flaring or coning the mouth of'a bad vheat conductingorifice, or by heating the mixture to a suitable extent combustion onissue will easily continue with much weaker mixtures up to, or exceedingseven of air to one ofgas.

A mixture of one and a half of air to one of an ordinary London coal gasgave under the above conditions a long flame having a central extendedcone of greenish. color of a clearly defined length, which coneshortened. as the proportion of air in the mixture was increased untilit became a minimum which in this case was half oi the length firstobserved. The proportions of air to at this point were three and a halfto one.

The central greenish cone up to this point had beenv si'lrrounded by asheath of'reddislryellow color of a maximum diameter at about the middleoi? its length, which gradually decreased in thickness and length untilat a ratio roughly of threeand three quarters of air to one of gas theoutline of the cone and the exterior of the sheath merged into thesingle outline of a flame of a faint blue color and gradually taperingterm, slightly longer than the above minimum cone.

Continuing to increase the quantity of air in the mixture, thecharactertistic of a single outline bluish flame was maintained,increasing in length until at seven parts of air to one of gas the flamewas double its minimum length.

tions'of gas and air which gave a neutral mixture for the gas underconsideration, corresponding to maximum efliclency combustion'in aclosed furnace, and that the relative lengths of the cone and-flame alsoindicated further, defined proportions in either an oxidizing or in areducing mixture; *The'measurements of cone and flame lengths vary withthe qualityfot the gas, and thepressure' or the incoming mixture.

The'object of the present invention is to fprovide improved means forcontrolling a gaseous fuel supply system.

A furtherr object of the invention is to apply the hereinbeforedescribed phenomena tot-he determination of the proportions of acombustible gaseous mixture.

The invention consists in a system for supplying gas'eousfluids such asgas and air separately through suitable main conduits to an'y'numberofcombustion appliances, in which a supply of gas is governed topreve'ntia predeterminedpressure being exceeded'and a supply of airisprovided at a pressurealw'ays in excess thereof, or vice versa,saidsupplies of elastic fluids'being further controlled by apressure-balancing device to maintain a definite relationship betweentheir, pressures, andjmeans being also provided for compensating for thevariations in the quality of the gas by adjustment of the supply to themain conduits of one or both of the fluids. 1

The invention further consists in a system as' above indicated in whicha governor onv the gas supply prevents a predetermined pressure'beingexceeded and further control of the fluids is effected within verynarrow limits by a sensitive pressurebalance having balanced valvesactuated by amovable partition member such as a sensitive bell ordiaphragmsubjectedon opposite sides to the airand gas'pre's'sures,adjustment'preferably by'means of valve control on the air conduit attheoutlet of the pressure balance being also provided for compensating forvariations in the quality of the gas.

The invention further consists in a system'according to one or both ofthe preceding paragraphs in which the gas and air are combined attheburners of the combustion appliances in substantially the correctproportions rm combustion'by orifices primarily adjusted in accordancewitlrthe pressures and not easily afterward disturbed,

. said air and gas being subsequently thoroughly mixed prior to reachingthe ignition sions of a flame produced by burning in the under a a smallatmosphere, a jet thereof issuing constant moderate pressure from andpreferably flared orifice.

The invention further consists in heating on its way to a small orificea combustible gaseous mixture at a moderate constant pressure to atemperature at which a mixture of the required proportions will burnwhen issuing into the atmosphere from such an orifice and utilizingobservations of the character of the fiames resulting from thecombustion under corresponding conditions of mixtures of knownproportions to obtain the desired proportions in the mixture underconsideration.

T he invention further consists in a device for determining theproportions of the constituents in a combustible gaseous mixture, saiddevice comprising a small orifice for providing a jet of the combustiblemixture issuing into the atmosphere, means for heating the mixture ifnecessary on its way to such orifice, and means for observing thecharacter of the flame produced by combustion of such jet of mixture,under a given pressure.

The invention further consists in a. de vice according to the precedingparagrapl'l in which a jet of mixture issues from a preferably flaredorifice at the end of a horizontally disposed tube which may be heatedexternally if desired, and a horizontal hollowed shielding screenpositioned below the flame produced by combustion of said jet isdarkened, and may be provided with a pointer, markings, or like means to"facilitate observation oi the flame.

The invention also consists in the improved method of and or means fordetermining and adjusting the proportions oi the constituents in acombustible gaseous mixture as hereinafter indicated.

Figures 1 and 2 show a more or less diagrammatic plan anrt elevationpartially in section of one form of supply system in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 3 IS a section of one form of mixture .cock with adjustableorifices at the mixing point.

Figs. t and 5 are longitudinal and cross sections of one form of theflame test appliance and Fig. 6 shows a modification of the testappliance.

In carrying one feature of the invention into effect in a convenientform as shown by way oi. example in the drawings, a supply of gas at anyconvenient pressure in excess of possible requirements is passed fromany blower or pressure device 1 through any known floating bell or thelike gas governor 2 or other suitable apparatus for governing thepressure of the gas which is so adjusted that some predeterminedpressure within the limits of the supply will not be exceeded.

An air, supply is provided by a fan or other means-at "a pressure whichwill not be lower at any time thanthe governed pressure of the gas. 1

The supplies of the two fluids are passed through a pressure-balancingdevice 4, preferably oi": the typedescribed in-British PatentSpecification No. 110568, in which the movement {of a sensitive hell 4?.or diaphragm or partition subjected upon oppo? site sides to thepressures of the air and gas operates balanced valves t" and 4;controlling the passage of the fluids through the apparatus.

The supply mains 5 and 6 to the system of furnace, lighting or otherburners 7 comprising .in the embodiment illustrated an installation.oi": furnaces otthe, type described in American application, Serial No.137885, lead directly fromthe outlets of the pressure balance 4, andupon one or both of these mains ordinary stop or like adjustment valves8 and 9 are provided, the adjustment being preferably made upon thetions from both the gas and air mains 5 and 6, the 13101301'131011501'the mlxture be ng ad-' .justed in accordance with the relative pressuresoi": the fluids by means of adjustable orifices 10 10 in mixing cocks 10or the like, as shown in Fig. 3 and the constituents being thoroughlymixed prior to reaching the ignition zone of the burner.

In such a system the gas governor2 is so set that a suitablepredetermined gas pres sure shall not be exceeded and the pressurebalance 41: is arranged to maintain equal pressures oii, or any desiredrelationship within the scope of the device between the pressures oi?the two fluids. The burner or mixer orifices 10, 10 are primarilyadjusted to pass the desired quauti.tiesfor a correct mixture at thedetermined pressures and where the greatest niceness of adjustment isrequired as above at the maximum calorific value of the gas, all of theburner mixers in the system, preferably inchulingthat for a flame,light, or other test burner 11, being adjusted under the sameconditions.

lldiere the system comprises lights, one may be lined at a convenientposition to act as a guide, or a guide light may be added to any systemwhiehcomprises only furnaces or other heating appliances. Where,however, the condition of the furnace flame,

via, oxidizing, reducing or neutrah'is of:

importance, a test flame of the type herein indicated is preferablyemployed at 11. When once the burner orifices 10, 10" have been adjustedthey should not be altered by the workman or other persons withoutauthority, further adjustment under working conditions in order toprovide for the slight unavoidable variations}; in the quality of thegas being ellected by adjustment oi? the air supply to theentire systemby means of a valve or the lilre 9 as hereinbeitore described. Wheneffecting such temporary adjustments the guide lighter other determiningmeans 11 as indicated will preferably be used by the superintendingresponsible person as an indication in order to establish correctconditions in the mains.

in a complete works in which pieces or apparatus requiring widelydifferent pres sures are installed, such apparatus may be grouped inorder to place all those requiring substantially similar pressureconditions under one system of control. A main supply of gasmay beprovided at a pressure high enough for the maximum requirements, and thedifferent pressures required in the separate system can be controlled bygas governors positioned at the inlets to the pressure balances of therespective systems. An air supply at the maximum necessary pressure maybe taken to all the balances Without "further control, as the pressureoi? one of the constituents entering the pressure balance being correct,the pressure of the other constituent in order to maintain a desiredconstant relationship will be automatically controlled by the pressurebalance itself. lf'the pressures of gas and air in the mains are highenough, all the heating devices can be given greater elasticity by aproportional valve being introduced tothose requiring that elasticity.

. .The burners are preferably iuclosed and so armanged that escape oi.the products of combustion into the atmosphere is at a point below thelevelof the combustion zone in order to avoid the suction effect ofchimneys or equivalent devices- By this means it is assured that noexternal air can possibly obtain access to the burner or other i partsof the furnace or combustion appliance to upset the proportions of the1nixture.

1 ln carrying); the second feature of the invention into eflect inonesimple piece of other suitable material and having the greater portionof its ,top open, as shown at '7). i'

Into-one end of the casing a is fastened 'a back-flash extinguishingdevice preferably ol the'type described in my British )ressure 'a 'esuitable forrecordin moderate pressur and to the otherbranch of which'is. attachedfa stop-cock 9 provided with an extension 72 adapted toreceive a rubber tube 'connection 2'.

The end of the back-flash extinguisher 0 projecting within the casing ais' provided with a short length of rubber tubing j into which islnserted the bu'lbed end of a.

silica glass tube 72 the other end-of which is internally'coned orflared, as shown at Z. Thls' glass tube may conveniently be about threeinehes'long andone-eighth bore,

with the flared end opening from one-ei hth to one-quarter diameter in alength of about one-quarter of aninch. V r

liastened tothe opposite end of the easing a and projecting to beneaththe flared end of the tube is a shallow trough or shield m'which mayconveniently be formed to a semicircle in cross-section, as shown inFig. This screen is preferably darkened upon its upper surface in orderto render the flame more visible and its edge may be provided withsuitable markings or other means for determining the length of theflame.

Beneath the tube 73' the casing a may be provided with a pocket a closedby a lid 0 and in which the pressure gage 7' may be inserted when not inuse to protect it from injury.

iVhen using the apparatus, the rubber tubei is connected to a furnace orother burneri which is to 'be tested or'it may be connected to *theontlet'of any mixing appliance inwhich a mixture isliormed from separatesupplies of two' constituents such asgas and air maintained at equal orconstantlyf related moderate pressures, further adjustment of thepressure at the jet and upon the 3 pressure gage beinge'lfectedadjustment of the stop cocks e and g as desired,a pressure of a fewtenths of an inch water gage being generally a convenient one with whichto operate. The jet of .issuing'mixture is then lighted and the asalready described.

"Tothe outlet ofthe backflash extinguisher is fitted a' lengtho'fhorizontal pipe 70, say a silicaglas's tube, of about three inches inlength and one-sixteenth diameter bore, or other; suitable dimensions,and below this pipe there is provided a spirit lamp Z or otherconvenient heating device capable of raising the temperature of themixture passing through the pipe k at a point sulliciently far from theoutlet end'to prevent the flame of the lamp interfering with the flameproduced at the issuing jet of mixture.

Beneaththe orifice) from which the mixture issues at the end oi? thepipe it is a horizontal hollow or concave shielding screen m, longenough to cover any length of flame producedbythe pressure of mixtureemployed in the apparatus. This screen maybe darkened and litted at oneof its edges with markings.

This screen, in addition to :l acilitating observation of the ilame alsoacts to shield it against any currents of air coming from beneathandtending to cause undesirable upward deflection oi -the flame.

In operation, mixture at a suitable pressure issupplied to theajniaratus, the pressure being further adjusted by means ol? the tapuntilthe desired reading, say, of a few tenths oi an inch water pressureis obtained on the pressure The spirit lamp or like heating means whenused is then'put in'operation and the jet o'l issuing mixture lightedand the propm'tions adjusted until the desired result is attained byobservation of the flame, as hereinbeilore indicated.

' By means of thissecond feature of the invention, the proportions ofgas and air in the mixture can be easily and rapidly ad- .justed to giveeither a neutral, reducing or oxidizing llame. Such adjustment beingeffected by a portable apparatus successively applied at each furnaceduring the same period that the permanent apparatus is correctlyadjusted and operating at the icst point 1.1 of the system. When achange in the quality of the gas shows undesiredioa ditions at thepermanent apparatus. a correction is made by adjustment on the mainswhen the supply to all the furnaces will be simultaneously corrected.

Modifications in the arrangemem: oi the system or in the apparatus andmanner ol using the same may be introduced, and automatic means forrecording the results added, without in any way departing from thespirit of this invention.

Having now fully described and ascertained my said invention and themanner in which-it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is"1. A system for supplying two gaseous fluids such as gas and air to anynumber of combustion appliances, comprising in combination a supply ofone of said fluids, say for example the gas, governed to prevent apredetermined pressure being exceeded, a sup ply of another fluid, suchas air at a pres sure always in excess of said gas, a pressure balancingdevice by which said supplies are further controlled to maintain adefinite relationship between their pressures, and

means for compensating for the variations in the quality of the gas byfurther adjustment of the controlled supply of one or both oi thefluids.

2. A system for supplying two gaseous fluids such as gas and air to anynumber of combustion appliances comprising in combination a governor onthe gas supply preventinga predetermined pressure being exceeded, asensitive pressure balance having balanced valves actuated by amovablepartition member such as a sensitive bell or diaphragmsubjectedon opposite sides to the static, air and gas pressures tocontrol the relationship otthe pressures of the fluidswithin very narrowlimits and valve control means on one of the supply mains at the outletof the pressure balance "for compensating for variations in the qualityof thegas. Y L

3. A system for supplying two gaseous fluids, such as gas and air, toanynumber of combustion appliances comprising in combination a supply ofone of said fluids, say for example gas; a gas governor toprevent apredetermined pressure being exceeded, a supply of the other fluid suchas air at a pressure always in excesso'f the said gas, a pressurebalancing device by which said supplies are further controlled tomaintain a definite relationship between their pressures, means forcompensating for the variations in the quality'of the gas by .furtheradjustment of the controlled supply of at least one of the fluids andmixing means having orifices controlled by members not easily afterwarddisturbed, which are primarily adjusted in accordance with the pressuresto give a mixture which is correctly proportioned prior to reaching theignition zone of the combustion appliances.

4. Asystem for supplying gaseous fuel and air to a number of distributedcombustion appliances comprising in combination means for providing asupply of gaseous fuel. at a moderate pressure, means for providing asimilar supply of air, means for maintaining a constant relationshipbetween the pressures of said two supplies and a sig' nal light or testflame situated at a convenient station and individually adjustedsimultaneously with all the other burners of the system to comply withdesired ob served conditions at a given calorific value of the gaseousfuel and a determined ratio between the pressure of the two gaseousfluids, so that upon alteration of the calorific value all the burnersmay be returned to the desired conditions by adjusting a single binationa governor on the gas supply'pre venting a predetermined pressure beingexceeded; a sensitive pressure balancehaving balanced valves actuated bya movable partition member such as a sensitive bell or diaphragmsubjected on opposite sides to the static air and gas pressures tocontrol the relationship oi the pressures of the fluids within verynarrow limits; valve control means on one of the supply mains at theoutlet of the pressure balance for compensating for variations in thequality of the gas and mixing means having orifices controlled membersnot easily afterward disturbed, which are primarily adjusted inaccordance with the pressure to give a mixture which is correctlyproportioned prior to reaching the ignition zone of the combustionappliances. e V V 6. A'method of obtaining exactly proportionedmixturesof gaseous constituents such as gas and air adapted for combustion,consisting in providing separate supplies of said constituents atmoderate pressuresbean ing a constant relationship to one another,mixing said constituents in proportions regulated by controllingapertures, adjusting the pressure of the resulting mixture to a definitedetermined value and observing the nature of the flame produced, byburning in the atmospherea jet of the mixture issuing from a small andpreferably flared orifice.

7. A method of obtainingexactly proportioned mixtures ofgaseousconstituents such as gas and air adapted forcombustion.consisting in providing separate supplies of said constituents atmoderate pressures bearing a constant relationship to one another,mixing said constituents in proportions regulated by controllingapertures, adjusting the pressure of the mixture to a definitedetermined value and observing the nature of the flame produced, byburning under conditions adapted to maintain an issuing jet of themixture at a temperature sufficient to insure continued combustion inthe atmosphere.

SQ A method of obtaining exactly proportioned mixtures of gaseousconstituents such as gas and air for combustion consisting in providingseparate supplies of said constituents at moderate pressures. bearing aconstant relationship to one another, mixing said constituents in theproportions regulated by controlling apertures, adjusting the pressureof the mixture notto exceed one inch water gage amt-burning in theatmosphere a et of the mixture issuing irom arsmall orifice ofrefractory material havnga flared or coned mouth piece.

. 9. In combination apparatus for obtaining exactly proportionedmixtures of gaseous constituents such as. gas and air adapted forcombustion, means for providing a correctly proportioned supply of mix-iture at'a moderate pressure, means for omit- I tinga small jet of themixture into the at- 'mosphere, and means fonmaintaining.said

jet at sucha temperature as to-insure continued combustion. I

10; In combination in apparatus for obtaining exactly proportionedmixtures of 7 gaseous-constituents such as gas and. air

' adapted for combustion, means for providinga. correctly proportionedsupply of mixture at -a moderate pressure, a small orifice for emittinga jet-0f the mixture into the at mosphere means preferably comprising .aflared mouth piece {to said orifice for main tainingsaid jet at such atemperature as to insure continued combustion and a hollowed V shieldingscreen positioned closely adjacent the side of said-jet and adapted tofacilitate observation thereoff r 11. Incombinationin.apparatus forobtaining exactly proportioned mixtures of gaseouslconstituents such asgas. andflair adapted forf combustion,'nieans for .pro- Vi ding acorrectly proportioned supply of a 1 mixture ata moderate pressure, asmall orifice foremittin a horizontal 'et of the mix- .s l ture nto theatmosphere, means preierably compr smga flared mouth piece to saidonfice for maintainin said; 'etat such a temb peratureas to insurecontinued combustion, a darkened hollow shielding screenpositioned"horizontally. below said jet and .,markings orlike'means uponsaid shleld'to facilitate observationof theflame'.

12. Aemethod of obtaining exactly proportioned mixtures of gaseousconstituents such (sagas. and air for combustion con- I sistingjinproviding:separate supplies .of said constituents under moderatepressure,

mantaining. a constant relationship between the. pressures Of SitMlconst tuents bycontrolling said supplies by valve means actuated by a,movable. p artition: subjected upon oppositesidesto the controlledpressures, mixing .saidconstituents in proportions regulatedcontrolling.apertures, adjusting the pressure of the. resulting.. mixture to adefinite. determined value, and. observing the maintaining a constantrelationship between the pressures of said constituents by controllingsaid supplies by valve means aetuated by a movable partition subjectedupon opposite sides to the controlled pressures, mixing said.constilalents in, proportions regulated by controlling apertures,adjusting the pressures of the mixture, not to exceed one inch watergage, and burning in the atmosphere a jet of the mixture issuing from asmall orifice of refractory material having a flared or coned mouthpiece.

14. A method of obtaining exactly proportioned mixtures of gaseousconstituents such as gas and air for combustion consisting in providingseparate supplies ol said constituents, governing the pressure of onesupply so that the-pressure of the other will under all ordinaryconditions of variation be the greater, automatically maintaining aconstant relationship between the pressuresof said constituents byexerting a checking or throttling action upon said supplies inconjunction with submitting a movable partition, which actuates thethrottles to the modified pressures of said constituents acting uponopposite sides thereof, providing for. further optional control of oneof said supplies and applying combustion indicating means to obtain anydesired exact proportions ina mixture of said constituents.

'15. A method of obtaining exactlyproportioned mixtures of gaseousconstituents such as gas and air for combustion consist ing inprovidingseparate supplies of said constituents, governing the pressure of onesupply so that the pressure of the other will under all ordinaryconditions of variation be the greater, automatically maintaining aconstant relationship between the pressures of said constituents byexerting a checking or throttling action .upon said supplies in.conjunction with submitting a movable partition which actuatcs thethrottles to the modified pressures of said constituents acting uponopposite sides thereof, and providing for further optional. controlofoneof said supplies.

16. A method of obtaining exactly proportioned mixtures of gaseousconstituents such asgas and air for combustion, consistingin providingseparate supplies of said constituents, automatically maintaining aconstant relationship between the pressures of said constituents byexertinga checking or throttling. action upon said supplies inconjunction with submittinga movable partition, which actuates thethrottles to the modified pressure of said constituents acting uponopposite sides thereof, providing for further optional control of one ofsaid supplies, and applying combustion indicating means to obtain anydesired exact pro portions in a mixture of said constituents.

17. A method of obtaining exactly proportioned mixtures of aseousconstituents such as gas and air for combustion c0nsisting in providingseparate supplies of said constituents, governing the pressure of onesupply so that the pressure of the other will under all ordinaryconditions of variation be the greater, automatically maintaining aconstant relationship between the pressures of said constituents byexerting a checking or throttling action upon said supplies inconjunction with submitting a movable partition to the modified.pressures of said constituents acting upon opposite sides thereofproviding for further optional control o'l one of said supplies,applying temporary combustion indicating means to show the character ofa mixture consumed in one of any number of furnace or other combustionappliances operating under desired conditions, simultaneously adjustinga mixture to produce like results in a permanent combustion indicatingmeans and subsequently inthe case of variation in the gas supplyutilizing the further optional control to restore the desired conditionsof combustion from observation of: the permanent indicating means. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALEXANDER CONSTANTINE IONIDIlS, JR.

